There are asterisks all over in scenarios like these, but Mason Rudolph wasn't at his best no matter how many of those might be added.
He threw a grisly pick on his first pass:
Uh, yeah.
I had to ask:
"Yeah, the DB made a good play," Rudolph would reply to my question, referring to Tampa Bay's Zyon McCollum. "I was a little late to the seam, and he overlapped in Cover 3 and made a good play. I've got to be either quicker to the seam or check the ball down. So yeah, that happens in the course of a year, the course of games, even early in games. You've got to mentally recover from that and go back out."
Which he very much did, to his credit. He'd finish 3 of 5 for 46 yards, including a 42-yard heave over the middle for Roman Wilson that appeared -- from this press box perspective, anyway -- to be a bit underthrown, then a smooth scrambling 2-yard touchdown to Brandon Johnson:
"I was happy with the way we moved the ball down the field," he'd say of that drive. "Roman had the chunk play to get us in the score zone, and we finished it off."
For the preseason, Rudolph's 12 of 15 for 130 yards, two touchdowns and a pick.
Those statistics could also count one special moment, that coming when the crowd roared upon his name being introduced as the starting quarterback just before the Steelers' first offensive huddle. Almost as if his 2023 performance were being appreciated anew.
"Yeah, it was great," Rudolph said. "A lot of great memories here. I'm so thankful to be back in such a great organization. Yeah, I definitely enjoyed running back out of that tunnel, being with this team, back in the black and gold, and having some fun out there."
He'll be needed. Don't lose sight of that.
In relief, Skylar Thompson was 10 of 15 for 113 yards with an interception, and Logan Woodside was 4 of 9 for 45 yards and an interception late in the fourth quarter that resulted in the Buccaneers' winning field goal as time expired.
THE ASYLUM
DK: Not Rudolph at his shiniest
There are asterisks all over in scenarios like these, but Mason Rudolph wasn't at his best no matter how many of those might be added.
He threw a grisly pick on his first pass:
Uh, yeah.
I had to ask:
"Yeah, the DB made a good play," Rudolph would reply to my question, referring to Tampa Bay's Zyon McCollum. "I was a little late to the seam, and he overlapped in Cover 3 and made a good play. I've got to be either quicker to the seam or check the ball down. So yeah, that happens in the course of a year, the course of games, even early in games. You've got to mentally recover from that and go back out."
Which he very much did, to his credit. He'd finish 3 of 5 for 46 yards, including a 42-yard heave over the middle for Roman Wilson that appeared -- from this press box perspective, anyway -- to be a bit underthrown, then a smooth scrambling 2-yard touchdown to Brandon Johnson:
"I was happy with the way we moved the ball down the field," he'd say of that drive. "Roman had the chunk play to get us in the score zone, and we finished it off."
For the preseason, Rudolph's 12 of 15 for 130 yards, two touchdowns and a pick.
Those statistics could also count one special moment, that coming when the crowd roared upon his name being introduced as the starting quarterback just before the Steelers' first offensive huddle. Almost as if his 2023 performance were being appreciated anew.
"Yeah, it was great," Rudolph said. "A lot of great memories here. I'm so thankful to be back in such a great organization. Yeah, I definitely enjoyed running back out of that tunnel, being with this team, back in the black and gold, and having some fun out there."
He'll be needed. Don't lose sight of that.
In relief, Skylar Thompson was 10 of 15 for 113 yards with an interception, and Logan Woodside was 4 of 9 for 45 yards and an interception late in the fourth quarter that resulted in the Buccaneers' winning field goal as time expired.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!